Early 1920s Betty Wales Cotton Organdy Dress, XS/S

A very early 1920s Betty Wales dress, likely dating from 1920-23 based on newspaper ads

Fabricated in a Tea Rose colored crisp cotton organdy

High wide neckline clean finished with self binding.

Self ruffle creates a front and back yoke line

Short sleeves with ruffle embellishments. (***Sleeves have been hand basted up. You can easily remove the basing if you would prefer a 5” longer sleeve length)

Decorative self covered buttons down center back and down center front concealing the functional snap closure down the center back and along the waistline.

Self ruffles in a swirling pattern embellish the skirt

Scalloped hem clean finished with self binding

French finished seams

Maker: Betty Wales, A clothing line that stemmed from a partnership between a dress manufacturer and Margaret Warde (pen name for Edith K. Dunton) creator of the Betty Wales book series published between 1904 and 1917. In 1915, I presume as part of a licensing deal, a New York dress manufacturer approached Warde to write an origin story for Betty Wales dresses titled, “Betty Wales, Business woman”, I’ve found ads for Betty Wales dresses as late as 1938, but I’m not certain when the partnership ended. The darling little bird/fish “Ploshkin” on the label, also pulled from the books, is said to “bring good luck and fortune”. (See attached article for the backstory in attached article)

Condition: Very good. There are a few light colored spots that did not lift in the soak, but nothing distracting. I see traces of a net fabric in the inside neck binding and below the waist tape so I assume this originally had an understructure, but it presents beautifully as it is. See photos. Freshly hand soaked and line dried, arrives clean and ready to wear.

Measurements: The measurements below are the actual measurements of the garment. Please allow for ease. Whenever possible the best way to insure a good fit is by comparing the measurements to that of a similar garment in your closet.

Size: looks to best suit a modern XS/S. Please use measurements below.

Neck: 16”

Shoulder: No defined shoulder seam

Bust: 46”

Waist: 26”

Hips: full

Sweep: 84”

Length from Shoulder to Waist seam: 17 1/4” to waist seam

Length from Waist seam to Hem: 30”

Sleeve length: 16” from center back, across shoulder to sleeve edge (*** see note above regarding sleeves)

Sleeve Cuff Opening: 13”

Model is 5’3” with a 31” Bust, 25.5” waist and 36” low hip

Has not been clipped on model

Proud Member of the Vintage Fashion Guild